Machine for bending fifth-wheels fob



'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES KIESER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

MACHINE FOR BENDING FIFTH-WHEELS FOR VAGONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 32,947, dated July SO,1861; Ressued May 28,

To @ZZ whom r1f/may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES KIESER, of the city of Baltimore and Stateof Maryland, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Bending FifthWVheels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which--Figure 1 is a perspective view of my said machine. Fig. 2 is anunderside view of the lever and set. Fig. 3 is an axial section of thecomplete machine.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

In constructing fifth wheels for carriages, great difficulty isexperienced owing to the necessity of bendingV the iron edgewise. By theusual mode a great amount of labor by a skilful workman is necessary toproduce the accurate form and perfect finish required.

The subject of my invention is a machine by means of which these objectsmay be accomplished with great rapidity and with but little skill orlabor, and the invention particularly consists, 1st, in the use of astationary disk and clamping device, constructed as hereinafterexplained in connection with movable pattern rings, for the forma? tionof fifth wheels of various sizes. 2nd, in the combination of a studshaft hinged lever and adjustable set, for bending fifth wheels, ashereinafter explained.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

A., is the base of the machine, which may be constructed of castiron. B,D, and C, are circular plates, also of cast iron. The base A, and platesB, D and C, are all perforated centrally with square apertures taperingdownward to receive a tapering square shaft E, by means of which theplates are secured to the base by the application of a nut e.

E', is a stud journal projecting upward from the shaft E, andconstituting a pivot for a socket F, which is secured thereon by a nute.

Gr, is a lever hinged to the ears Z), b, of the socket F.

H, is a set or former provided with a screw threaded neck which isinserted through the slot c, in the lever Gr, and prevented from lateraloutward movement by means of a screw nut d, and the vertical taper ofthe lever, it being the largest the farthest from its axis. The form ofthe under side of the set is shown in Fig. 2.

I, is a flange secured upon the periphery of the circular plate B andprovided with an ear J into which a set screw K of any suitable lengthis fitted.

L, is a clamp dovetailed into the face of the circular' plate B andconnected at its rear end to the end of the set screw by means of whichit is moved radially in or out.

then it is desired to bend a fifth wheel, the lever is turned up out ofthe way and the metal strip having previously been cut to the properlength, one end is secured by the clamp K, L. The lever is then turneddown and the former H, placed so as to ust pass over the end of thestrip. By moving the lever around upon its pivot the strip of metal ispressed around the periphery of the pattern ring D and thereby bent intothe form of a ring with a flat surface, the inner diameter of which isequal to that of the outer diameter of the pattern ring. All tendency ofthe wheel to twist while being bent around the pattern ring is avoidedby pressure upon the lever as it is revolved. For this purpose asuitable weight is suspended from the hook at the end of the lever. A

The upper surface of the plate B, being of convex form imparts aconcavity to the under surface of the ring produced. At the same timethe outer edge of the said ring is swaged down by the form of the set H.This action adapts the wheels to fit together in pairs without thenecessity of hand litting. To permit the easy removal of the fifthwheels when made the ring D, is made of slightly smaller diameter on itsupper side. Each ring as formed is released by retracting the clamp jawL, and elevating the lever G, and may then be lifted off without anydifficulty. Then it is desired to produce fifth wheels of another sizethe nut c, is removed the shaft E, withdrawn and the pattern ring orplate D, replaced by another of the size required which is then securelyclamped between the plates B and C, as before by the taper form of theshaft. The nut c, at top is employed only to retain the socket F, inposition. The clamping together of the plates by the nut e, therefore,offers no impediment to the rotation of the socket.

The machine is of simple and Cheap construction and is not liable toderangement.

The use of the movable pattern disks (D) adapts the machine to bendfifth Wheels of any required size, on the same level in respect to theclamp and bending` tool.. It also permits the ready replacement of aWorn pattern with one of accurate form and size, Without other detrimentto the machine.

The construction of the machine is such as to afford great facility forremoving the fifth Wheels When bent.

The surfaces of the fifth Wheels do not require straightening by handafter leaving` the machine but require only Welding` together at theirends.

All Wheels made upon any one pattern ring are of the same size and donot require to be turned to match each other.

The tool H, is secured against radial displacement by a simpleandeffective means and admits of ready adjustment, or the tool may beconveniently replaced by that of different shape in order to producefifth wheels of semi-circular hexagonal or any other desired section.

What I claim as nevv and of my invention herein, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

l. The combination of the movable pattern D, convex plate B, clampingplate C, tapering shaft E, and sliding clamp L, all constructed andoperating in the manner and for the purposes explained.

2. The combination of the hinged tapering lever G c, stud shaft E, andadjustable set H, constructed and operating substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

The above specification of my improved machine for bending fifth Wheelsfor Wagons Signed this third day of April 1861.

CHARLES KIESER.

fitnessesz lV. E. BENDR, JAMES H. GRiDLEY.

